4wd can improve cornering speeds on loose surfaces and in low traction situations, but only with techniques that allow it to help, which aren't safe on the road, a closed rally stage is a different matter, you get the car sliding and use the cars power and traction of the 4wd to pull it in to the apex of the corner. It works in motorsport but not on open public roads.
This is good run of posts as its important that anyone selecting AWD knows the reality of what getting on normal roads.
1. Getaway will be seamless with no tramping and that's in the wet too
2. There is a marginal sense of greater security when pushing through lanes etc but my present GTD feels pretty secure also, so this alone is not a reason to go AWD
3. The AWD will help a little to get and keep moving in snow from stationary
4. The AWD on standard tyres is no better than any conventional FWD car in snow when moving along, you will slide as much as anyone due to the basic physics of tyres grip to the snow, you could have 8WD on standard tyres and it would make no difference.
These comments are from 6 years driving Quattro which took in the last serious snow we had and is pretty much the fact.
The single thing that frustrates me the most is the having to feather the acceleration to avoid tramp which even though improved on better tyres is still an issue in the wet. Like to see my gap and go without worrying going to be standing still while car finds its grip.
If AWD was available on GTD would have likely chosen it
So do not select AWD on this type of car for snow or greatly increased handling, you only select AWD if getaway is a real issue for you. Winter tyres and Chains would be better investment on FWD car.
For me, everything you read and see on the R points to a special package so its a 3 year experiment to see how the whole experience of driving this next level of car and resolving my biggest present issue is worth the extra £. Basically scratching the itch
